Lower Ball Joints

Raise and safely support the vehicle until the front wheel is clear of the floor. Try to rock the wheel up and down. If any play is felt, have an assistant rock the wheel while observing the lower ball joint. If any movement is seen between the steering knuckle and control arm, the ball joint is bad; if no movement is detected, the wheel play indicates wheel bearing wear.

Raise and safely support the vehicle until the front wheel is clear of the floor. Try to rock the wheel up and down. If any play is felt, have an assistant rock the wheel while observing the lower ball joint. If any movement is seen between the steering knuckle and control arm, the ball joint is bad; if no movement is detected, the wheel play indicates wheel bearing wear.

Removal & Installation

Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions Section.

Install or connect the following:

Lower control arm from the vehicle

Rivets retaining the ball joint to the control arm using a
1
/
2
in. (13mm) drill bit

Ball joint from the control arm

To install:

Install or connect the following:

Ball joint into the control arm

Nuts and bolts (included with new ball joint kit) and torque them to 50 ft. lbs. (68 Nm)

Control arm to the vehicle

Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions Section.

Install or connect the following:

Lower control arm from the vehicle

Rivets retaining the ball joint to the control arm using a
1
/
2
in. (13mm) drill bit

Ball joint from the control arm

To install:

Install or connect the following:

Ball joint into the control arm

Nuts and bolts (included with new ball joint kit) and torque them to 50 ft. lbs. (68 Nm)